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Pounded yam

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A plate of food; pounded yam and soup

Pounded yam (Yoruba: Iyán, Hausa: sakwara, Igbo: Utara-ji) is a Nigerian swallow or Okele food.[1][2] It is traditionally prepared by pounding boiled yam with mortar and pestle.[3][4] Pounded yam is similar to mashed potatoes but heavier in consistency. It is a smooth and tasty delicacy traditionally eaten with the hands.[5][6][7]

Iyán as the Yoruba people call it, is consumed in Ondo State, Ijesha, Kogi State, Okun, Edo, Benue and Ekiti in Nigeria, among others. It can be served with egusi soup, jute leaves soup (ewedu), stewed spinach (efo riro) or okra soup.[8][9][10] Akpu as the Igbo people call it, is consumed in Anambra State, Enugu State, Imo state. It can be served with Ogbono soup, Okra soup, ofe Nsala (white soup), ofe Akwu (palmnut soup) and egwusi soup.

Types of yam

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The type of yam used for pounding yam is the African yam which is common in Africa and some parts of Asia.[11] It is also known as puna yam, true yam or white yam.[12][13] The texture is rough with brown skin and off-white flesh; its length ranges from that of regular potatoes up to five feet long.

A yam market in Lagos, Nigeria

Puna yam is a makeup/cash crop available all year round unlike other crops that are seasonal. Other varieties of yam include purple yam, wild yam, white guinea yam, Chinese and water yam.[14][15]

African yam is rich in carbohydrates and calories. Although it lacks protein, it can be balanced with egg and sauce.[16][17][18]

Varieties of soup for pounded yam

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Egusi soup
Banga Soup (Freshly Cooked)

Pounded yam goes with okro soup, ẹ̀fọ́ rírò, banga soup (ofe akwu), ogbono and gbẹ̀gìrì soup.[19][20] The food is popularly eaten with egusi soup, a tasty stew made from ground melon seeds, tomatoes, onion and red palm oil.[21][22][23]

Pounded Yam Variations

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A popular variation of the pounded Yam indigenous to the ancestral people of Ile-Ife is known as Iyan Gbere. This version of the dish incorporates the use of the African breadfruit (Treculia africana), a tropical fruit native to Africa.[24]

To prepare Iyan Gbere, the African breadfruit is first cooked until it is soft. It is then pounded or blended to create a smooth, dough-like consistency. This breadfruit paste is combined with the traditional yam paste used in Iyan to create a unique, flavorful dish.[25] [26]

Iyan Gbere is often served with traditional Nigerian soups, such as Egusi or Okra soup. The addition of the African breadfruit gives the dish a distinct taste and nutritional profile, making it a favorite among the locals in Ife.[27]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Osinkolu, Author Lola (2019-06-13). "Pounded Yam". Chef Lola's Kitchen. Retrieved 2022-05-12. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  2. ^ Oyibo, Emmanuel (2020-04-15). "Top 20 Nigerian Foods That Will Blow Your Taste Buds". Chef's Pencil. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  3. ^ "How To Make Pounded Yam – Old Fashioned Pounded Yam With Pestle And Mortar". The Online Cook. 2022-01-29. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  4. ^ Osinkolu, Author Lola (2019-06-13). "Pounded Yam". Chef Lola's Kitchen. Retrieved 2022-05-12. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  5. ^ "Pounded yam: an african dish essay sample - 259 Words". NerdySeal. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  6. ^ Staff, Chef's Pencil. "Pounded Yam Recipe". Chef's Pencil. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  7. ^ "What are popular foods in Nigeria? – idswater.com". idswater.com. Retrieved 2022-05-12.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ "Nigeria: How to Make Egusi Soup and Fufu (Pounded Yam)". Surrey Fusion Festival. Archived from the original on 2021-10-27. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  9. ^ "Best Egusi Soup And Pounded Yam Recipes". Food Network Canada. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  10. ^ "What do you eat with pounded yam?". Answers Nigeria. Retrieved 2022-05-12.
  11. ^ "Fried Puna Yam". Chef Lola's Kitchen. 2015-07-07. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  12. ^ Osinkolu, Author Lola (2021-08-27). "YAM | TRUE YAM | AFRICAN YAM". Chef Lola's Kitchen. Retrieved 2022-05-15. {{cite web}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  13. ^ "The Ultimate Yam Guide: Types of Yams and When to Use Them". Sabi Naija. Retrieved 2022-05-15.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "Dioscorea alata Water Yam, Purple yam, Greater yam, White yam PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  15. ^ "yam | Description, Uses, Species, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  16. ^ Paper, board and pulps. Determination of acid-soluble magnesium, calcium, manganese, iron, copper, sodium and potassium, BSI British Standards, doi:10.3403/30198875, retrieved 2022-05-15
  17. ^ "Dioscorea alata Water Yam, Purple yam, Greater yam, White yam PFAF Plant Database". pfaf.org. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  18. ^ "yam | Description, Uses, Species, & Facts | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  19. ^ Afrolems. "Efo Riro and Pounded Yam Recipe - Food.com". www.food.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  20. ^ "10 Most Popular Nigerian Soups". www.tasteatlas.com. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  21. ^ "Nigerian Egusi Soup". Serious Eats. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  22. ^ "Egusi Soup". Low Carb Africa. 2018-06-06. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  23. ^ "How to Make Nigerian Egusi Soup Recipe | Egusi Soup Recipes". Demand Africa. 2017-06-20. Retrieved 2022-05-13.
  24. ^ Olufunke (2021-07-17). "Nigeria's medicinal plants: Artocarpus altilis (Gbere)". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  25. ^ "HISTORY OF IFEWARA – IPOB ONTARIO". Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  26. ^ AdminTO (2017-04-30). "Ifewara: Yoruba town where diabetics are rare". Tribune Online. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
  27. ^ "Ile-Ife, the city of culture". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 2019-04-27. Retrieved 2024-04-03.
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